It certainly looks like Kylian Mbappé will have to miss Wednesday’s Champions League match against Benfica. The Real Madrid forward is reportedly still suffering from problems with his left knee, which has been troubling him in recent months.
Real Madrid face Benfica today at 21:00, with the Spanish side preparing to defend a small advantage from the much-discussed first leg in Lisbon.
The objective is clear: qualify for the Champions League round of 16 at Benfica’s expense. Yet the build-up to the match is being dominated by uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappé, with the growing expectation that Real will have to complete the job without their star forward.
It has all the appearance that Mbappé will be forced to miss the Champions League game against Benfica. The Real Madrid attacker is reportedly still suffering from his left knee, an issue that has been playing up for months and continues to trouble him at the worst possible time. According to L’Équipe, the problem has not gone away, and the discomfort has again become significant enough to interfere with his preparation.
The French sports newspaper reports that Mbappé was unable to finish Tuesday morning’s training session. The session was cut short for the 27-year-old striker, and that detail alone has intensified doubts about his availability. L’Équipe adds that tests have shown the knee is still far from healed, suggesting that even if he were to be considered, it would likely involve major risk. In that context, the reports paint a picture of a player whose condition simply is not stable enough to push through another high-intensity match, especially one with knockout-stage pressure.
This is not the first time the same knee has caused issues this year. Earlier in the calendar year, Mbappé also struggled with the joint and missed Real Madrid’s home match against Real Betis, a game the team went on to win. That earlier absence is important because it underlines that this is not a one-off knock or a minor discomfort. Instead, it appears to be a recurring problem that has periodically forced him out, only to return again later. L’Équipe’s reporting also stresses that there has been little or no time to properly rest the star player, which implies Real have been forced to manage the issue in the middle of a demanding schedule rather than allowing a full recovery period.
While the immediate concern is whether Mbappé can play against Benfica, the situation quickly becomes bigger than this one match. L’Équipe does not provide any information about how long he could be out, which means there is no certainty yet on whether this is likely to be days, weeks, or something that needs careful monitoring. That absence of clarity keeps the story open-ended and increases the speculation around what Real will do next.
In Spain, Marca approaches the situation differently and suggests it may not even be a purely medical issue, but a strategic one. According to Marca, the thinking would be that resting Mbappé now would allow him to be fit for the crucial phase of the season and for the World Cup. In other words, the decision would be shaped by timing and priorities. Instead of taking a chance on him in the short term, the club could choose to protect him so that he is available and physically ready for the period when the biggest matches and defining moments arrive.
That strategic framing is reinforced by what is reportedly being said at Valdebebas, Real Madrid’s training complex. According to the information being circulated there, the rest period being discussed could be around ten days. If that is the plan, it would help explain why the idea of missing the Benfica match is being treated as realistic, even if the match is pivotal. Ten days would not necessarily indicate a long-term absence, but it would strongly suggest Real believe the knee needs a proper break, and that continuing without meaningful rest is counterproductive.
All of this leaves Real Madrid facing Benfica with a potential major absence. The club have a small lead from the first leg in Lisbon, but the margin is not large enough to allow complacency. At the same time, the reports indicate that Mbappé’s knee is still not healed, that he could not complete Tuesday’s training session, and that his absence is being considered not only in medical terms but also through the lens of longer-term planning. L’Équipe cannot yet say how long the forward will be missing, while Marca presents the possibility that this is a calculated decision designed to have Mbappé ready when the season reaches its most decisive stage.
So, ahead of the 21:00 kick-off today, the situation stands as follows. Real Madrid want to secure Champions League qualification against Benfica, but it looks increasingly likely that they will attempt to do it without Mbappé. His left knee remains a problem, Tuesday’s training ended early for him, tests reportedly show the injury is far from resolved, and although the duration of his absence is unclear, a rest period of around ten days is being suggested at Valdebebas.
